Verizon Communications and AT&T announced they have won contracts with the Department of Homeland Security worth nearly $1 billion.
Under the new contracts, Verizon Business, as the primary service provider, will deploy and manage a secure global IP network linking thousands of Homeland Security sites, in a deal valued at $678.5 million over 10 years. AT&T Government Solutions will serve as the secondary network service provider in the Eastern region as well as for the Western region for the network in a contract valued at $292 million.
The networking project, called OneNet, will consolidate seven legacy wide area networks into one, secure Internet Protocol network infrastructure that the agency hopes will facilitate the future convergence of IP and wireless networks while encouraging data sharing across all components of the department.
“The Department of Homeland Security has entrusted Verizon Business to support its critical mission of protecting our country and its citizens,” John Killian, president of Verizon Business, said in a statement. “The advanced network that we deploy will serve as the vital springboard for the department's evolving requirements going forward. We look forward to being a trusted partner of the Department of Homeland Security for many years to come.”
The contracts awarded by Homeland Security are the latest under the U.S. General Services Administration's Networx Universal contract, a 10-year $20 billion contract vehicle that allows carriers to compete to provide telecom and related network services to federal agencies. Last March, Verizon, AT&T and Qwest Communications won the right to compete for Networx contracts.